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J. A. SERHELL AND J. L. HTTS.

STEAM HEATING APPARATUS.

APPLHLAIION FILED 1AN.7. \916- Patentvd Aug. W10.

I u new-1 0w Witwwoa;

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AND JAMES rioeAn rrcr'rs, new Jruasmr; SAID rm'rrs ASSIGNOR or HIS RIGHT A CORPORATION or new JERSEY.

STEAM-HEATING ArrAJaArUs.

inmate.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN A. SERRELL, a citizen of the United States, and resident of N orth'Plainfield, county of Somerset, and State of New Jersey, and JAMES LOGAN Fn'rs, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Pensauken township, county of Camden, and State of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Steam-Heating Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention has for its object the provision of a radiator or heating coils with means for thennostatically controlling the supply of steam thereto to maintain a substantially constant or uniform temperature in the room,'kiln, drying oven, or other. space or apparatus for which the invention is to be utilized; but in all cases the thermostat controlling the steam delivered to the radiator or coils is to be arranged close to the lower portion of said radiator or coils and above the floor, so as to be directly affected by the temperature conditions of the cooler air circulating immediately adjacent to or under the lower portion of the radiator or coils and relatively close to the floor.

We have determined that the air flowing from various portions of a room or compartment toward and about the under portion of a radiator or coils, arranged close to the floor in the usual way, bears a certain tem perature relation to the average room temperature, and we have utilized this cooler air as the direct medium to affect a thermostatto control the admission of steam to the radiator orcoils. The coolerv air thus utilized is more nearly an average of temperature conditions in the room or chamber than the air higher up and at any specific location considerably distant from the radiator or coils to be regulated; and moreover, the air being of a relatively lower temperature, the efi'ect of its, varying temperature conditions upon a thermostatic device is more reliable and makesthe thermostat more quickly responsive to said varying temperature conditions of said cooler air than if placed higher up Where the temperature conditions arewarmer.

With the above and other objects in view, the nature of which will be more fully understood from the description hereinafter, our invention consists in the provisionv of a thermostatically operated member adjacent Specification of Letters Patent.

longitudinal sectional Patented Au 5, i919.

Application filedJanuary 7, 191av Serial No. 70,706.

to the lower portion ofthe radiator or coils and above the floor and utilizing the same for operating controlling the steam supply to the said radiator or coils, whereby its temperature is automatically varied inversely with variations of the air passing to its lower portion to be heated for circulation; and further consists in certain features which enter into an organization of our improved apparatus; all of which is hereinafter more scribed and defined in the claims.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a. radiator having our improved thermostatic controlling devices applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a elevation of the thermostatically controlled valve shown in Fig. l, with a portion of one of the chambers broken away; Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of a portion of Fig. 2 showing the adaptation of a handle for operating the manually controlled valve; and Fig. 4& is a side elevation with part of the valve in section illustrating a modification of our invention.

2 represents a radiator of any suitable construction, the same being illustrated of the conventional form consisting of a pinrality ,of sections held together and supported above the floor by suitable legs 2 so as to provide a shallow space under the radiator and above the floorinto which the cooler air from the room is caused to circulate, amt-b becoming heated, rises above the radiator. Steam is supplied to the radiator by means of the supply pipe 3 and branch pipe l, the said steam being preferably delivered to the upper part of the radiator. The steam thus supplied to the radiator is valve 5 of any suitable construction, though we have illustrated a special construction of valves which we prefer for use in connection with our improvements. 7 represents the return pipe for water of condensation and air from the radiator, and the connection of this pipe 7 may be made through any of the usual return valves such as the thermostatically operated valve 8 which permits the passage avsuitable valve device for fully decontrolled by a v steam through the pipes 3 and 4 under the control of thevalve 5,

and above the floor so as to be acted upon by the cooler air returning the room and delivered to lower part.

We will now describe the details of our improved thermostatically controlled valve by specific reference to of the valve 5 is provided with a thoroughfare 9, 9, containlng a valve seat 10 preferably formed as a bushing screwed into a transverse diaphragm which divides the thoroughfare into two parts, and said bushing providing at opposite faces the valve from all parts of the'radiator at its 5 seats, one of which may cooperate with a radiator, though we do with a union nipple 5 surfaces and clamped static-or manually operated valve piece 22, and the other with an automatic or thermostatically operated valve piece 11. The body is furthermore preferably provided for connection with the steam supply main 3, and also with a union nipple 5" for connection with the branch pipe 4 which connects with the not limit ourselves to these minor details. ,The body is further provided with an opening in alinement with the valve seat bushing and into which is screwed a bonnet 5 through which a valve operating stem 12 slides, a steam tight joint being provided by the stuifing-box 13. As shown, the valve piece 11 is connected upon the end of the valve stem 12 so as to have capacity for adjustment whereby it may properly seat uponthevalve seat without creating any binding effect upon its guides. While we do not limit ourselves to any particularmanner of attaching the valve piece to the valve stenr, the means shown is excellently adapted to the purpose and consists of a washer 11 with spherical-shaped between the valve piece 11 and a bushing 11 having a tapered aperture, said bushing screwed into the valve piece at the rear. By this construction, the valve piece is positively moved with the stem but will adjust itself to the valve seat. The other end of the stem 12 is adjustably screwed into thehead 20 of the expansible bellows structure 18 which may be made in any suitable manner and providing an interior chamber which contains an expansible fluid or preferably with associated gas, adapted to be expanded under Fig. 2. The body- Y14, and by which the variations in outside temperature. The expansible sections are connected by tubular sections 19 which are shown in Fig. 2 as loosely abutting, as when the expansible sections are fully collapsed and the valve wide open. The other end of the expansible member is brazed or otherwise secured at 21 into the end of a long tubular vessel portion 14 which also contains expansible fluid of any suitable character, preferably with associated gas, which will expand by variations in temperature of the surrounding atmosphere. Any change of the volume of the said expansible medium within the common chamber of the parts 14 and 18 will operate upon the expansible bellows or motor portion 18 to assist in the expansion thereof for moving the valve piece 11 to more or less close the passage of steam through the thoroughfare of the valve. We do not in any manner restrict ourselves to the special construction of the expansible member, as this may be made in any manner desired, and the particular construction illustrated is by way of example only. As it is necessary for proper operation of the thermostatic motor, in its operation of shifting the valve piece, that the non-active end 21 thereof shall be held in a fixed relation with respect to the valve body, this is accomplished by means of the inclosing tubular part 16 which is screwed upon the bonnet 5 of the valve body and adjustably screwed into an annular flanged portion 15 extending from the thermostatic chamber member portion the motor may be adjusted relatively to the valve body in the direction of the valve stem. The thermostatic motor portion, together with the thermostatic chamber portion 14:, may be rotated so as to be screwed upon the tubular part 16 to a greater or less extent to provide the proper adjustment of the valve piece 11 relatively to the seat on the bushing 10, and when 50 adjusted, the parts may be locked by means of the threaded sleeve 17 acting as a lock-nut. The adjustment is required to provide proper cooperation between the parts to maintain a regulation of the steam supply which will insure a maintenance of temperature predetermined upon. This will be understood by recognizing that when the air of the room exceeds the maximum' temperature permissible, the temperature of the air below or adjacent to the lower portion of the radiator and acting upon the thermostatic devices of the steam controlled valve may causethe valve piece 11 to close tightly upon its seat, and to insure this the parts must be adjusted as above stated. For

ner of adjustingthe vary the admission of steam to suit the requirements of the radiator in maintaining the proper predetermined temperature of the room required. Any other suitable manparts may be employed, such for example by loosening the lock-nut 20 on the stem 12 and adjusting, the stem in the head 20 of the thermostatic motor, and we therefore do not limit ourselves to any particular manner of adjusting the thermostatic valve devices. As will be seen from Fig. 1, the closed thermostatic chamber 14 is preferably quite long relatively to the bellows or motor portion,'and this is to enable the expansible medium as a whole to be afi'ected thoroughout substantially the Whole length'of the radiator. It will therefore be understood that the length of the chambered portion 14 will decreased to suit the variations in the length of the radiator itself or as occasion may suggest or require. We do not restrict ourselves in any manner to the particular construction of this elongated chamber portion 14:, but have shown a convenient conplece of tubing 18 struction in which a tightly brazed or otherwise secured to the 21 of the motor dethese parts provide, in eflect,

non-active tubular end vice so that one chamber. In addition to the thermostatically operated valve piece 11, we prefer to employ the manually controlled valve piece 22, which is screwed through the body and adapted to seat upon the inlet side of the bushing 10, and this valve piece or,plug may be provided with a socket 23 into which a key 27 may be inserted for rotating it, as indicated in Fig. 3. By removing the key, the plug is not-easily manipulated and therefore its operation may be restricted to certain attendants Whose duty it is to operate the said static valve of controlling the freedom of admisslon or for shutting 0d the supply of steam to the radiator when heating is not required, or in case the thermostatic portion ofthe valve device is to be removed for repairs orcleaning, at which 1311118113118 plug 22 will prevent the escape of steam from the steam main. This plug 22 may be made steam tight by suitable packing 25 and gland 24. Any

other suitable means of making a steam ment as indicated in tight joint may be employed.

Tn place of the static valve piece or plug 22 being arranged in alinement with the bushing 10, it may be arranged out of aline- Fig. 4, when it is desired that the said plug shall be operated from a handle 28 and stem 27 in a manner similar to any ordinary static valve. In the construction shown, the branch pipe 4 is provided at its top with an elbow furnishing a bearing for the vertical stem 27 constituting the means for operating the shut-ofi plug by putting the be increased or piece either for the purpose to the lower part of or valve 22 which may thus be operated by the occupant of the room to shut ofl' the steam supplyat any time desired, and therethermostatically controlled valve devic'esout of controlling operation.

We do not restrict ourselves to anyexpansible medium or fluid within the chamber portion 14 and expansible or motor member 18, as it may consist of a volatile liquid or a gas or a mixture of these, and the volatile fluid thus employed may be similar to any of those now in use in thermostatic motors.

In practice, we prefer that the preliminary setting of the valve '11 relatively to the seat 10 in assembling may be done by the screw stem 12 in the by the lock-nut 20 while the general adjustments of the valve and seat to insure a predetermined temperature in the room may be done by rotating the thermostatic motor on the threaded case 16 and securing it by the locking sleeve 17. In this way the adjustment will admit steam in volume desired, whereby it will heat such surface of the radiator as will hold the room'at the temperature required. For any change in the predetermined temperature to be maintained, the adjustment must be again made, setting the valve piece farther from the. seat for a higher temperature and vice versa. In practice, we have found that the valve will operate between fully open and fully closed positions for a change in temperature of 3 .to 6 degrees Fah. and

hence actual regulation is automatic to pre vent any material variation in the predetermined temperature to be maintained in the room because of the great sensitiveness of the thermostatic control of the valve devices between these extreme positions.

As will be seen, our invention comprehends the placing of the thermostatic valve operating means in a position to be acted upon by the current of cooler air flowing toward the radiator and adjacent to the floor, this cooler air current on being reheated forming the means of conveying and didusing heat throughout the room or inclosure to be warmed. The result of placing the thermostatic device in the current of. cooler air flowing toward or adjacent the radiator is to secure as nearly as possible an average of the temperature conditions of the room or inclosure, the current toward the radiation being composed of the cooler and heavier air from all parts of the room and its composition largely proportionate to the degree of lower temperature times the volume of cooler spaces which are to be raised in temperature.

The sensitive or thermostatic device may be of any suitable length so long as it provides means of operation by an average of head 20 and locked has beenfound in practice to the air to be reheated, andwe therefore do not restrict ourselves to any particular length or shape of the thermostatic devices for operating the main valve. These thermostatic devices may, moreover, be located immediately under the radiator substantially as shown, or they may be arranged adjacent to the lower portions of the radiator so long as they are arranged relatively close to the floor or wall adjacent to which the radiator may be located andbe acted upon by the average cooler mixture, and'we therefore do not restrict ourselves'to the exact location of the thermostatic motor devices.

It'will now be apparent that we have devised a noveland useful constructionwhich embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable, and while we have in the present instance shown and described the preferred embodiment thereof which give satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that we do not restrict ourselves to the details, as the same are susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. 7

Having now described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an apparatus of the character stated, I

- the combination of a radiator or coils, means for supplying steam thereto, a valve device for controlling the flow of steam to the radiator or coils, an elongated horizontally arranged thermostatic motor device placed below the bottom of radiator or coils and along the entire length-of the bottom part thereof so as to be acted upon by the air passing from the room first to the thermostat and which on leaving the thermostatic motor static motor device arranged immediately adjacent to the lower portion of the radiator along the length of its bottom for operating the valve device whereby it is affected by the temperature conditions of approximately all of the air which passes under the radiator and before ithas risen to the radiator coils. t

8. In an apparatus of the character stated, the combination of a radiator comprising a pluralit of coils and having feet to hold said coi s at a short distance above the floor, with a pipe for supplying steam to the raditor, a v lve to control the supply of steam bythe supply of device passes directlyupward to the under part of the radiator or coils substantially the whole length of the radiator and.

positioned under its heating coils, whereby it is affected by the air passing over the floor to all of the under part of the radiator, said thermostatic motor out of contact with the radiator coils.

4. In an apparatus of the character stated, the combination of a radiator comprising a plurality of coils and having feet to hold said coils at a short distance above the floor, with a pipe for supplying steam to the radiator, a valve to control the supply of steam to the radiator, an elongated horizontally arranged thermostatic motor to operate the said valve extending along the length of the radiator and under its heating coils and acted upon wholly by the air before it reaches the radiator coils, whereby it is affected by the air passing over the floor to the under part of the radiator, said motor comprising a fixed chamber having at one end a plurality of bellowselements having their interiors in communication with the fixed chamber, an adjustable connection bements and connecting the fixed chamber with the valve body, and a manually controlled shut-off valve to shut off the supply of steam to the thermostatically operated valve wheresteam to the radiator may be manually controlled without interference with the adjustment of the thermostatically controlled valve.

' 5. In an apparatus of the character stated, the combination of a radiator supported at .a distance above the floor, a valve for controlling the flow of steam to the radiator arranged beyond one end of the radiator, a long thermostatic motor device arranged immediately under the radiator and extended beyond its end and secured in position, a connection between the thermostatic motor device and the valve whereby the latter is operated by variations in the air temperature immediately below the radiator, said long thermostatic motor device being suspended above the floor and at a distance below the radiator and extending approximately the length of the radiator.

6. In an apparatus of the character stated, the combination of a radiator, a supply pipe for admitting steam to the radiator, a valve for controllingxthe supply of steam passing to the radiator, and an elongated thermostatic motor device for automatically operating said valve, said elongated motor arranged below the lower portion of the radiator along the length of its bottom'and comprising an elongated hollow chambered part of fixed shape, and an expansible thermostatically operatedpart adapted to operate the valve and having its interior in communication with the elongated chambered part and said parts containing an expansible fiuid medium, both the hollow chambered part and the expansible part being subject directly to the same heated medium.

In an apparatus of the character stated, the combination of a radiator or coils, a supply pipe for supplying steam to the radiator" or coils, a valve for controlling the supply of steam through the supply pipe, a thermostatic motor arranged below the radiator or coils and along the length thereof and consisting of an expansible closed chambered portion one end of which is provided with surrounding the bellows members, and adjustable means for adjusting the bellows endof the eXpansi-ble chambered portion bodily to and from the valve seat whereby the valve piece may be normally adjusted relatively to the valve seat.

Intestimony of which unto set our hands.

JOHN A. SERRELL.

. JAMES LOGAN FITTS. Witnesses:

R. M. HUNTER,

FLORENCE DEAOON.

invention, we here- 

